I wanted to replace my TV, Foxtel, Shield TV and AV remotes. I was tossing up this at $185 or just getting the harmony hub at $128 and this morning it was almost $40 off so I jumped on it and thought others might like to know.
CamelCamelCamel.
Perhaps fine if you were planning on using a phone to run the Harmony app to control devices.
But if you want home theatre control with WAF, go the next level up.
Based on what?
If you only have a few activities/devices, there are cheaper remotes (eg. Harmony 650/350). The hub is great, but this remote provides only some of its features.
@norkle: My wife loves the Elite, with about 9 devices it makes it easy for her to use it, break it, then get Harmony to fix it for her without calling me.
In case it doesn't work.. I can fix it remotely on my phone too!
@norkle: I've got 6 activities on mine similar to the one posted here. Not sure how many more you would need?
@[Deactivated]: What activities have you set up? I don't have many google routines setup cause I can't figure out what I'd want/need? I have LIFx lights, google home, Echo Dot and Echo Spot. I also have a Sensibo Air to control the Air Conditioner, not sure if the Harmony Hub will make this device redundant.
@[Deactivated]: TV - turn on tv, amplifier, set tv to antenna and amp to HDMI
Foxtel - same as above but set amp to Foxtel and tv HDMI appropriately
PS4 - turn on PS4, set amp to PS4 and tv to appropriate HDMI
Chromecast - set amp and tv to appropriate HDMI
Movies - set amp and tv to appropriate HDMI
Music - set amp and tv to appropriate HDMI
Then I also have separate activities setup that I control using Google home such as 'AFL' and 'NRL' which will switch to Foxtel and set the correct channel
I also have the reverse cycle air conditioning setup with the harmony hub so I can use Google home to turn that on and either cool or heat.
Had to look up what WAF was…
For those wondering:
WAF = Wife Acceptance Factor1
The expanded version of which I have heard of before!
Do not use Urban Dictionary, it's not that good for this one… ↩
I'm keen to see how the whole thing goes with my google home and Echo's. I can do almost anything with voice on The Nvidia Shield Shield (still waiting on full voice control to be reinstated from Google). I had a 650 a few years ago and found it too complex for others to use. What is the help button for?
I have a Google Home Mini in the theatre along with some Yeelights and a Harmony Elite with Hub.
We use the Mini / Hub daily - eg:
…and also common commands like pause / play / volume up and down / lights brighter or dimmer etc.
Help feature info (have only had to use it a handful of times when using a Hub-based setup):
https://support.myharmony.com/en-ls/using-the-harmony-help-f…
I have this and the elite. If you are only switching between 3 activities, this is great!
It supports 6 if you map long press.
Oh yeah true
Personally this is the harmony I’d recommend. The lack of remote with a screen doesn’t bother us as we hardly change activity mappings and six has been enough for us. I find the displays slow anyway on those remotes. You can use a mobile app if you really need a display. Integration with Google Home and other services is a nice bonus too and for those that want to take a deep dive, you can integrate the hub with home automation products like Home Assistant. It’s a bit involved but by using Home Assistant we have our home theatre controls available in Apple Home which allows control of the unit via our iPhones Control Centre which is neat. If I had a proper home theatre I’d probably hook in automated blinds etc too which would be easily done with the hub and HA.
Battery life for the remotes terrific as well.
This is what I was thinking, instead of the remote with a screen I'd just use my phone or google voice. It'll be mostly for controlling volume as in some apps on the Nvidia Shield cannot control the surround sound.
This has been on my Amazon shopping list for a while now. Missed out last it came down in price.($156 so even cheaper now)
Google interaction is good for those who took on the Spotify deal
I bought the refurbished Logitech Harmony Smart Remote Control for $85.46 last week. Almost the same as Companion. The box was opened, the units inside looks like new. The Hub was resisted under the previous owner, and I have to hard rest it. After the firmware update and setting, it runs well.
https://www.amazon.com.au/Logitech-915-000194-Smartphone-Cer…
Here is the difference between the Harmony Smart Remote Control & Harmony Companion.
https://www.imore.com/logitech-harmony-companion-vs-logitech…
Meegwetch kemosabe
How do you handle help without the screen. We've got the 650, and at times something in an activity will fail (eg receiver/pvr/tv doesn't turn on) - usually we go to help and use the prompts on the remote screen to problem solve. I want bluetooth, so would need either this or elite, but lack of screen turns me off companion, and price is too high on elite.
on the phione
no go on the phone - wife and kids
I’ve got the 650 and found it does everything I need - especially as you say with a fail (@##$$%^& Foxtel IQ3 being the main offender)
It’s better than the OEM remotes
Usually the 650 fails to work when its IR beam was interrupted or its battery needed replacing. For models with a hub the IR beam is transmitted from the hub at a fixed location and is much less likely to be interrupted. The hub runs on a power adaptor so its beam strength is consistently strong. Mismatches between the hub and your devices are rare.
As others have already mentioned, the major drawbacks with this remote is sometimes you forget which activity button is mapped to which activity (especially with the long presses), and there isn't a way to map home automation commands (e.g. smart lights on/off/dim) to its buttons.
got this from amazon for around AUD$100 ages ago. Love it (once it's properly setup)
Thanks I can't wait to get it. Is there anything special about the setup or does it just take a while to wrap your head around it?
It works reasonably well out of the box and following the setup instructions. The tricky bits can be the 10% quirks that don't quite work as well as you may want. You have to tinker around a bit. It also depends on your setup and what you're trying to do.
Broadlink mini ir and Google home
Any ideas if this remote actually works with Foxtel? Most universal remotes including the Broadlink and Xiaomi ones don't … and I think from memory the other Harmony remotes I've tried don't either (although it's been a while since I used a Harmony so I could be wrong).
Yes/No/Maybe according to this
https://community.foxtel.com.au/t5/Foxtel-iQ3/Harmony-Elite-…
Not an expert but it seems that for it to work your Foxtel box must support IR (not just BT)
Works fine with mine. IQ2/3/4K all have IR
Yes works fine
does it work with samsung tvs? cant get the oem versions to learn the IR codes
Works with my Samsung
I was able to get Harvey Norman to price match if you are looking to pick up locally (and don't mind buying from Gerry)
Excellent remote (feels great in the hand, has good button layout, and excellent battery life), although worth mentioning a few limitations: